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Halloween just happened, and we’re already being bombarded with holiday shopping ads, gift guides and more. The ‘holiday hype’ sheds light on the differences between non-local, commercial businesses and those of our locally owned coop. The big difference, you ask? We are built to serve.

While we may look like a typical, commercial business from the outside, how we operate internally is what makes us different. A cooperative business is set up by those whom it serves and is controlled by them directly. This model allows us to serve our communities by providing products and services, creating jobs, and most importantly, by giving back through charitable contributions. In 2017, our coop supported the work of local non-profits, scholarships and booster clubs, medical benefits and more.

This holiday season our focus will continue to be what it has been for the last sixty years – serving our communities. In November, we will be kicking off our third annual Sioux Valley Coop Cares campaign, and we need your help to make it a success! This campaign is an opportunity for everyone in our communities to give back to the non-profit organizations who selflessly serve others throughout the year.

Sioux Valley Coop Cares is taking place now through December 23rd at all of our convenience store locations (East Highway 212 and Highway 20 in Watertown: Highway 12 & 25, Webster; and Highway 25 in Roslyn). Simply use your Fuel Advantage card to earn points on everyday purchases. Once you earn 500 points, DONATE them by visiting any of our c-stores (note: effective this year we are unable to accept donation requests at our main office). For every 500 points you donate, we will donate $10 to a non-profit organization of your choice.

The theme of this year’s National Coop Month, “Coops See the Future,” embodies what co-ops envision and work to achieve every day—a more sustainable and inclusive tomorrow.

Celebrated by Sioux Valley Coop, and cooperatives nationwide during the month of October, Coop Month is an opportunity to celebrate the many ways cooperatives are using innovation to create shared prosperity for their members and communities.

With more than 40,000 cooperatives creating stable jobs and a more sustainable economy across the U.S., co-ops represent a proven way to do business and build communities.

A cooperative is a business that is owned and controlled by its members, and has the ability to adapt and invest in the interest of its members. Rather than rewarding outside investors with its profits, a coop returns surplus revenue to its patrons in proportion to how much they use the coop’s products and services. Since its inception in 1956, Sioux Valley Coop has paid back more than $27 million to patrons.

On a local level, Sioux Valley Coop employs 85 trained and dedicated individuals throughout its locations across northeast South Dakota.

“As a local, customer owned business, we take pride in adapting to the ever changing marketplace trends and the needs of our customers. Local means dollars spent stay in the communities we serve, and excess profits are returned to our customers, the owners. We invest for the future to maintain growth and long term sustainability. In the coop, we consider you family,” said Jared Landmark, CEO Sioux Valley Coop.

Join us in welcoming our newest employee, and IT Technician, Blaine Edwards! Blaine is an IT Professional with four years’ previous experience working in the ag equipment industry. During that time he provided IT support for 200 employees across 6 locations. In his spare time he is an EMT with the Estelline ambulance service. Join us in welcoming, Blaine!

WATERTOWN, SD – Sioux Valley Coop announced the launch of their 2nd annual giving campaign, Sioux Valley Coop Cares. The campaign is run through their Fuel Advantage loyalty program, and is designed to work with customers to give back to local non-profit organizations.

Through the Fuel Advantage Program, customers can earn points on their everyday purchases such as fuel, food and drinks by swiping their Fuel Advantage card. Once they’ve accumulated enough points, they can redeem their points for free items such as snacks, beverages and carwashes, or they can convert their points to dollars and donating them to a local non-profit organization of their choice. For every 500 points donated, Sioux Valley Coop donates $5.00.

During the campaign, if customers choose to donate their points to a non-profit organization Sioux Valley Coop will match every donation dollar for dollar. For every 500 points donated, Sioux Valley Coop will donate $10.00. The participating non-profit organizations are: Codington County Cares, The PACH Program, Veterans Group, Webster Swim team, Upside of Downs, Strand-Kjorsvig Community Rest Home and the following schools: Immaculate Conception, Great Plains Lutheran, St. Martin’s and Watertown Christian. Stop by any of their convenience store locations in Webster, Watertown or Roslyn to make a donation.

Here in rural America, there are three things that never change. The land, the commitment of the families that farm it, and the loyalty of the local cooperative, which provides the inputs, markets and information farmers and ranchers need to stay profitable. As part of a bigger system that can handle the logistics of global markets, (local co-op name) can tie your farm operation to buyers and sellers far beyond the county line. It also helps to represent your interests in shaping state, local and national policy.

As a member-owner of our local co-op, you have a say in how it operates, who runs it, and the local communities it supports. You also share in its success through patronage dividends based on earnings from the products you buy, the grain you sell and the services you use. That’s money that stays in our local community, and helps us all thrive.

Being local, our co-op knows you, your land, and what it takes to make your operation successful. We approach your business like a partner who has your best interests in mind. So in addition to providing quality inputs, we offer the risk management, agronomic and other services your operation needs.

As technologies change, it’s the next generations of farmers who face the challenge of staying current. By staying on the forefront of emerging technologies, we help young producers stay relevant while forming relationships that last a lifetime. Access to modern information helps younger farmers remain in the community and raises the bar for all members.

When you’re a member of Sioux Valley Coop, everyone wins. You gain a valuable local resource, the co-op grows stronger, and the community in which we live gains a strong economic anchor that helps fund local initiatives and allows the community to thrive. Wherever you find successful farming operations and strong local communities, you’ll find a local cooperative that helped them grow.

Farming has always been about working together. Without each other, growing becomes more difficult. That’s why we continue to work as a team, every day. Together we grow stronger.

Haley Rawsthorne is a Human Resource Professional with five years’ previous experience working in the Ag Equipment industry. During that time she provided HR support for 200 employees across 6 locations. She brings a passion for providing high level support to employees. Her specialties are recruiting, creating workplace efficiency, benefit administration and training. In her spare time she enjoys gardening & spending time with her family on their hobby farm.

(Watertown, SD) – On July 20, 2017, the patron of the Nassau Farmers’ Elevator Company in Nassau, MN voted by a 97% margin to merge with the Wheaton-Dumont Coop Elevator. The Nassau Farmers’ Elevator Company has grain, agronomy and energy, (Wheaton-Dumont Coop Elevator. Nassau Farmers’ Elevator Company Merges into Wheaton-Dumont Coop Elevator. Philip Deal, 20 July 2017. Web. 31 Aug. 2017.).

In a joint statement released Friday, Jared Landmark, CEO of Sioux Valley Coop in Watertown, and Philip Deal, General Manager of the Wheaton-Dumont Coop Elevator, announced they have finalized an agreement under which Sioux Valley Coop has acquired all fuel assets of the Nassau Farmers’ Elevator. The agreement was made final on Friday, September 1st.

“This acquisition is a win-win situation for everyone involved. Sioux Valley Coop is expanding its footprint into new sales territory, while at the same time offering premium energy products and services to farmers, home owners, and business owners,” said Jared Landmark.

For more information about Sioux Valley Coop, or to schedule a delivery, visit www.siouxvalleycoop.com or call 605.886.5829.

Say hello to our new convenience store located on Highway 20 in Watertown! Once completed, the 6,000 square foot store will feature a well lit, modern design, fuel pumps that are easy to access, and a market that offers meals, snacks, grocery items and more! We thank you for your continued support and business! If all goes according to plan, the new store will be open this November!

Throughout the past few years, we’ve been monitoring a dramatic shift in the automotive service industry. Changing technology and increasing competition has had a significant impact on our business and our ability to drive revenue. For example, if you purchase a car, many dealerships will include service appointments (tire rotations, oil changes, etc.) as part of the purchase price. Also, the customer we serviced then is not the same customer we service today. Customers drive newer vehicles that require advanced technology and tools for servicing that we don’t have. This is not a sign of failure. Rather, this is the evolution of an industry.

Given these changes, our board of directors made the decision to exit the automotive service business and close our service shop on Highway 20 in Watertown effect May 31st, 2017. Once the shop has been closed, an auction will be held June 10th, 2017 in an effort to liquidate tools, office furniture, etc. In July, work will begin on the convenience store to transform it into a newly renovated, full-fledged convenience store.

We realize this is an inconvenience, however, the end results will benefit our community and the needs of our customers. During construction, there are a few key details we would like to make you aware of:

Business will remain as usual our 24 hour Cardtrol location on south Highway 81, and our convenience store located on Highway 212. Stop by for all of your fuel needs.

You will have the ability to purchase fuel from the pumps at our Highway 20 location with your membership card until June 18th. Outside sales only.

If you purchased DEF from our Highway 20 location, we ask that you visit our South Highway 81 Cardtrol. DEF will be available at the pumps.

We kindly ask all customers needing signed tickets to go to our Highway 212 location.

Our Highway 212 location will also have packaged oil and grease products, and a propane filling station for tanks and RV’s.

If you’re looking for propane fittings or other related parts, please call our main office at 605-886-5829.

If you’re looking to have your vehicle serviced, we encourage you to check out these local shops who carry our Sioux Valley Coop Cenex products:

Community Oil –Roslyn, 486-4358

H&B Truck Shop—Watertown, 886-4011

Horters Restoration and Repair—Bristol, 492-3641

Schucards Westside GMC—Watertown, 886-5694

Sioux Valley Repair—Watertown, 880-2084

We are looking forward to this change, and ask that you join us in welcoming this exciting opportunity with an open mind and positive attitude. If you have any questions, please call us at 886-5829.

Propane is a fuel source for more than 60 million Americans! Whether you’re using propane to heat your home, get hot water or fuel your grill, there are many safety practices you should be aware of. With warmer weather upon us and grilling season unfolding, we wanted to share basic information and safety best practices with you. When handled properly propane is a versatile and safe fuel.

WHAT IS PROPANE?

In its natural state, propane is an odorless and colorless gas that is widely used to fuel appliances for heating, cooking and other uses. Although propane is used as a gas for fueling appliances, it is transported and stored as a liquid under high pressure in specially designed tanks or cylinders. When liquid propane changes into a gas vapor, it expands in volume by about 270 times. This means that propane is more economical to store and transport as a liquid rather than a gas vapor. However, this characteristic also means that even a small leak of liquid propane can result in a much larger quantity of vapor, which can be especially dangerous in a confined space.

Similar to any other flammable gas or liquid, propane is very safe when stored and handled properly. However, if propane is mishandled, it can cause property damage, injuries or even death. For this reason, users must have a thorough understanding of the properties and characteristics of propane, and the hazards and risks associated with its use.

KNOW THE ODOR OF PROPANE

The purpose of the odorant is to help people detect the presence of propane. It is important for all members of the household to be able to distinguish the smell of odorized propane.

IF YOU SMELL A LEAK

DO get everyone out of the home and move away a safe distance.

DO attempt to shut off the valves at the tank.

DO call both Sioux Valley Coop and the fire department for help from a phone that is a safe distance from the house.

DO NOT attempt to find the leak.

DO NOT attempt to repair your appliance or light your pilot light.

DO NOT turn light switches on or off inside the home.

DO NOT use a telephone inside the house or in nearby areas.

DO NOT light matches anywhere inside or near the home.

How do I safely transport and store small propane cylinders?

Use only DOT-approved cylinders that are in good condition.

When using a new cylinder for the first time, insist that your propane dealer purge the cylinder to remove air and moisture in the tank. Propane will expand and contract, depending on the temperature.

Cylinders should only be filled to 80 percent of capacity.

Before lighting a propane gas appliance, check all connections for tightness using a leak detection solution.

Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions before operating a gas appliance.

Never use propane from a cylinder without a regulator.

Do not use matches or a lighter to check for leaks.

Turn off the valves on the cylinder when an appliance is not in use.

Never store a cylinder indoors or in an enclosed vehicle.

When transporting a cylinder, make sure it is secured and in the upright position, so that the valves are in the vapor space.

Never smoke or have open flames near propane cylinders.

When filling cylinders attached to your vehicle, be sure all sources of ignition are shut off, including pilot lights and vehicle engines.